Corn-planter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. E. & H. Z. YOUTZ. CORN PLANTER.

Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

#NDREW B.GRAHAM.FHOTO-UTHQWASNINGTOR D C (No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 2.

H. E. 8: H. Z. YOUTZ.

CORN PLANTER.

PatentedDec. 31", 1895.

AN DREW BJERAHAM PHOTO-UYHQWASNINGTOMDC.

llmrnn STATES PATE T QFFICE.

HARRY E. YOUTZ AND HARVEY Z. YOUTZ, OF MOUNTVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,224, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed May 2, 1893. Serial No. 472,672. (No model.)

To all whom) it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY E. YoUrz and HARVEY Z. YoUTz, citizens of theUnited States, residing in Mountville, in the county,

of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Corn- Planters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of corn-plantershaving fertilizerdistributers attached thereto behind the grain-holdinghopper; and the objects of our invention are, first, to improve themechanism for regulating the adjustment of the op crating-gear; second,to support said gear from above; third, to facilitate the separation andassembling of the operating parts, and, fourth, to improve theconnections of the parts supporting theclutch-actuating lever. Weaccomplish these objects by the mechanism illlustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a .top plan View of thecornplanter, the rear of the fertilizer-hopper be-v ing cut away and thehandles removed. Fig.

2 is a side view of the same, a handle being removed and one of the sidebars cut away to show the gear actuating the mechanism of the hoppers.Fig. 3 is an enlarged sideview of the connection between one of thedirtscrapers, a depending strap connecting one of the handles with theside bar of the frame, and said side bar. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation ofthe grain-hopper, the standard beneath it, and the grain-conveying tubelocated therein on the line 0/: cc of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom planview of the clutch and the lever act- 'uating the same. Fig. 6 is anenlarged bottom plan view of the pinion on the shaftopcrating themechanism in the grain-hopper, and Fig. 7 an inverted elevation of thesame, seen from the direction of arrow 1 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top planview of the gear connected with the axle. Fig. 9 is avertical section onthe line y y of Fig. 1 the parts being viewed from the direction ofarrow 2. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the bottom plate of thegrainhopper. Fig. 11 is a side view of the end of .the' frame carryingthe gearing from which the mechanism in the hoppers is actuated and cutaway in Fig. 2. Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the fertilizer hopper,taken from broken line o v of Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is an inner face view ofthe side plate to which the clutchlever is attached. Fig. 14 is anenlarged vertical sectional view of the connection between theclutch-lever and the arm supporting it, taken on the line a z of Fig. 5.Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the enlargement of the plate carryingthe gear-wheel that meshes with. the face-wheel. Fig. 16 is a verticalsectiononthe line o o of Fig. 6, and Fig. 17 is a perspective view oneof the dirt-scrapers.

Similar letters and numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates the side bars ofthe frame, A the handles for guiding the planter, and O thefertilizer-hopper, of any Well-known construction and having a chute Cto carry the fertilizing material to the furrow behind thegrain-conveying tube. The top 0 of hopper C slopes downward from therear toward the front to allow the operator to see the bottom of thegrain-hopper, which is supported by vertically-disposed plates 1). Theseplates are secured to side bars A by screw-bolts a, and have ribs dformed on their outer sides that rest on said side bars. From the upperedges of plates D there extend outwardly horizontal lips d, on whichrest corresponding lips C formed on the sides of base 0 of hopper 0, thelips of said plates and hopper being fastened together by screw-bolts dE represents the covering-arms, secured to side bars A at e in anywell-known manner. Findicates the bottom plate of the grainhopper, F thehollow standard supporting the share or furrow-opener F and G thegrainhopper, one side 9 of which is cut away or set in from the edge ofthe annular depression or recess in the upper surface of plate F, inwhich is located the grain-carrier or feed-disk G, thus permitting theoperator to see whether the grain is being regularly fed through therim-openings g of said grain-carrier without changing his position.Rim-openings g register successively with an aperture f in bottom plateF, whence the grain drops into the conveying-tube F curved inward fromaperture f to the center of standard F, as shown at f ,and-thenceextending downward through said standard. Beneath the corners of thebottom plate of grain-hopper G there are 10- ened.

cated T-irons, having the stems g thereof resting against the innerfaces of side bars A. One end g of the head of each bears on the top ofone of said side bars, and the other g extends under the bottom plate ofthe grainhopper, to which it is secured by a screw-bolt g passingthrough it and said bottom plate. These screw-bolts pass through bossesf formed on the under side of the bottom plate, whereby the hopper iselevated above side bars A, so as to bring the bottom of the hopper morefully within the view of the operator of the planter. On the sides ofthe upper edge of standard F there are wings f having the outer ends ftaking under side bars A and provided with upwardly-extending lips f,through which the standard is secured to side bars A by bolts f H is theaxle, to the ends of which groundwheels H are rigidly attached, and onwhich is secured the clutch-gear H and spur-wheel H Spur-wheel H gearswith the cogs of the spur and face wheel II, keyed to the shaft 11". Theends of shaft II are journaled in openings through side plates Z offrame L, around which openings there are formed hollow bosses l on theinner faces of plate Z to increase the bearings for the ends of shaft HThe shaft H and gears II and n are placed behind the driving-wheel shaftor axle H, whereby the planter-frame is short- The frame L is formed ofsaid side plates Z, secured to the inner faces of side bars A byscrew-bolts Z and 1 the screw-bolt Z also passing through and holding inplace the support for the clutch-lever, to be described.Projectinginward from the tops of the front ends of plates Z are lugs 1to the under sides of which is secured by bolts Z a transverse plate Z.The center of plate Z has a horizontal enlargement Z wherein there isformed a slot Z longitudinally of the planter. In the bottom ofenlargement Z there are formed grooves 6, extending transversely of theframe, as shown in Fig. 15.

On the outer faces of plates Z there are horizontal ribs Z", resting onside bars A, and in the rear ends of said plates there is supported atransverse rod Z whereon may be hinged a cap, (not shown,) such as isordinarily used, to protect the mechanism between plates Zfrom theweather, dirt, ((70.

To the under side of enlargement Z a plate M is secured by a bolt m andnut W, said bolt passing through slot Z and thus permitting plate M tobe adjusted longitudinally of the planter. From the rear end of plate Mthere depends a lip 077?, through which there is a circular openingengaged by boss N on pinion 71, adapted to mesh with any of the seriesof cogs on the face of wheel H. Through boss N there is a squareopening, through which passes the square shaft P, geared with theoperating mechanism of the grain-hopper. This mechanism may consist ofan annular rack on the bottom of graincarrier G and which meshes with agear on shaft P, carrying the pinion n, as is usual and as shown inFigs. 4, 8 and 9.

On the under side of enlargement Z of transverse plate 1 there is a ribZ formed parallel with slot Z and extending the whole length of saidenlargement. One edge of adjustable plate M bears against rib l, whichforms a guide regulating the distance at which pinion a must be set fromface-wheel II to prevent gearing too deep therein. For, it must beunderstood, that by reasonof probably slight inaccuracies in theconstruction of the connections and attachments of these parts there maybe a slight bulge or throw of the pinion or inequalities in the depth ofthe spaces between the cogs of the face-wheel, so that the meshing ofthe wheels too deep is apt to create undue friction or tear out thecogs.

- On the upper face of adjustable plate M there is formed a transverserib 7, adapted to engage grooves 6 in the bottom of enlargement Z saidgroove being so arranged that the engagement therewith of rib 7regulates and insures the proper meshing of pinion 'n, with thedifferent series of cogs on the side of face-wheel 11', whereby injuryto said. cogs by improper adjustment of pinion n is prevented.

()n the inner face of one of the plates Z (see Fig. 13) there are formedvertical parallel ribs R, between which is engaged the vertical arm R ofan angle-plate, secured to said plate Z by a screw-bolt Z passingthrough it and the adjacent side bar A. The other arm R of theangle-plate extends inward and has pii'oted to its under side aclutch-lever, the jaws J of which embrace the clutch inside of anannular flange h formed thereon. The other end J of the clutch-lever hasattached thereto a wire \V, which extends upward and may be connectedwith a lever (not shown) on one of the handles A, as is usual.

In the under side of arm R (see Fig. l-i) there is screwed a short tube8, through which and a registering opening through said arm passes thebolt 9, on which said arm R is pivoted, the lower end of the tube 8projectin g beyond the face of arm R and. serving as a shoulder orbearing against which the clutchlever rests.

To the rear ends of side bars A there are connected dirt-scrapers (shownin Figs. 1 and 2) constructed of angle-plates having one arm T restingagainst the outer faces of side bars A and secured thereto byscrew-bolts '6, passing through slots i in said arms T and perforationsthrough side bars A, arms T bein drawn up against said side bars by nutsin 011 the inner edges of arms T there are inwardly-proj ecting flanges10, that lap and embrace the upper and lower edges of side bars A, thusenabling each dirt-scraper to be held in place by a single bolt. Theother arms T of the angle-plates extend outward beyond the rims ofwheels H and serve as scrapers, the proximity of said scrapers to thewheels being regulated by loosening nuts t and adj usting arms Tlongitudinally on bolts 15. The depending straps or braces S, connectinghandles A and side bars A, are also secured to said side bars by thescrew-boltst and nuts 2?.

The mechanism in the fertilizer-hopper of, any ordinary construction, isactuated by a sprocket-whee]. 3, Figs. 8 and 9, keyed to shaft H andconnected with a similar wheel 4, keyed to shaft 5, that is locatedbelow said hopper and journaled in plates D.

The location of the gearing for operating the mechanism'in the hoppersbehind the fertilizer-hopper and attaching it as shown permits the frameof the planter to-be shortened and the devices for attaehin g said gearto be made lighter and of more simple construction, and aifords more andbetter facilities for setting the parts and detaching and replacingthose worn out or broken. The arrangement of the connections between thehoppers and side bars A simplifies and facilitates the attachment andremoval of those parts. It also possesses the advantage of economy inpermitting any single worn or broken part to be detached and anew oneput in its place without wasting any other part or parts of thoseconnections. In placing the device for feeding the grain from the hopperto the tube carrying the same to the ground on one side of the hopperthe distance of said feed from the fertilizer-hopper is increased, andthus permits the operator to observe the working thereof more readily.In fact, this can easily be done when the frame of the planter isshortened to bring the fertilizerhopper so near the grain-hopper thatthe bottom of the latter cannot be seen from behind. Stress is laid onthe shortening of the planterframe, because such shortening enables itto be handled more easilyand readily. In casting the bottom plate of thegrain-hopper itis very expensive to bring the top of the same to aperfectly smooth surface. This expense we reduce by making said bottomplate of chilled iron, which facilitates its construction.

7 e do not confine ourselves to the details of construction herein shownand described, as it is obvious that many changes .may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a face-wheel, unyieldinglysecuredlongitudinally of the shaft and having series of concentric teeth, of atransverse plate rigidly connected with the frame, a rib formed on thetransverse plate parallel with the side of the face-wheel,a movableplate attached to the transverse plate and bearing against andadjustable lengthwise of said rib, means for rigidly securing themovable plate in an adjusted position on the transverse plate, a pinionunyieldingly supported by the movable plate in mesh with the series ofteeth of said face-wheel, and a shaft actuated by said pinion,for thepurpose specified.

2. The combination, with a face-wheel having series of concentric teeth,of a transverse plate having a slot formed therein parallel with theside of the face-wheel, a rib on the transverse plate parallel with saidslot, a movable plate bearing against and adjustable lengthwise of saidrib, a bolt passing through the slot and adapted to secure the movableplate in an adjusted position, a perforated lip on the movable plate, apinion constructed to mesh with the series of teeth of the facewheel, aboss on the pinion engaging the perforation in said lip, and a shaftengaging the boss and actuated by the pinion, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a shaft actuating the mechanism in one of thehoppers, of a pinion on one end thereof, a transverse plate locatedabove the shaft and having grooves formed in its lower face transverselyof the frame, a face-wheel having series of concentric teeth on one sideadapted to mesh with the pinion, a movable plate having a perforateddepending lip thereon supporting said shaft, said movable plate havingarib on its upper face adapted to engage the grooves in the transverseplate, whereby a proper engagement of the pinion with different seriesof teeth on the face wheel is insured, and means for rigidly securingthe movable plate in an adjusted position, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a face-wheel having series of concentric teeth,of a transverse plate having a rib formed thereon parallel with the sideof the face-wheel and a series of grooves therein perpendicular to saidrib, a movable plate attached to the transverse plate and bearingagainst and adjustable lengthwise of said rib, the movable plate havinga rib adapted to engage the grooves in the transverse plate, means forrigidly securing the movable plate in an adjusted position, a pinionsupported by the movable plate and constructed to mesh with the seriesof teeth of the face-wheel, and a shaft actuated by the pinion, for thepurpose specified.

5. The combination, with a face-wheel having series of concentric teeth,of a transverse plate having a rib formed on the bottom thereof parallelwith the side of the face-wheel, a movable plate attached to the bottomof the transverse plate against said rib and adjustable lengthwisethereof, means for rigidly securing the movable plate in an adjustedposition, a lip on the under side of the adjustable plate, a pinionconstructed to mesh with the series'of teeth of the face-wheel, a bosson the pinion engaging a perforation in said lip, and a shaft engagingan opening in said boss and adapted to be actuated by the pinion,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with two hoppers secured to the frame, one in frontof the other, the rear hopper being elevated above the side bars of saidframe, of vertical plates removably secured to the side bars behind therear hopper and extending above said bars, in wardly projecting lugs onthe vertical plates above the side bars, a transverse plate removablysecured to said lugs, a main shaft located back of the transverse plateand having a face-wl1eel thereon, a plate detaohably secured to theunder side of the transverse plate an d adjustable thereon parallel withthe side of the face-plate, a lip on the under side of the adjustableplate, a pinion constructed to mesh with series of teeth on theface-wheel, a boss on the pinion engaging a perforation in said lip, anda shaft beneath the rear hopper engaging an opening through the pinionand adapted to be actuated thereby, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

7. The combination, with two hoppers se cured to the frame, one in frontof the other,

the rear hopper being elevated above the side bars of said frame, ofvertical plates removably secured to the side bars behind the rearhopper and extending above said bars, a main shaft located behind thevertical plates and having a face-wheel thereon, a shaft beneath therear hopper having its ends j ournaled in openings in the verticalplates and abutting against the side-bars, said shaft actuating themechanism in the rear hopper and geared with the main shaft, inwardlyextending lugs 011 the vertical plates, a transverse plate removablysecured to the under sides of said lugs, a plate detachably secured tothe under side of the transverse plate and adjustable thereon parallelwith the side of the facewheel, a lip on the under side of the adjustable plate, a pinion constructed to mesh with series of teeth on theface-wheel, a boss on the pinion engaging a perforation in said lip, ashaft extending beneath the rear hopper and engaging an opening throughthe pinion and adapted to be actuated thereby, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

8. The combination, with a hopper, of vertical plates re movably securedto the side-bars behind said hopper and extending above the sidebars,inwardly projecting lugs on the vertical plates above the side bars, atransverse plate removably secured to said lugs, a shaft having aface-wheel thereon, a plate detachably secured to the under side of thetransverse plate and adjustable thereon parallel with the side of theface-wheel, a lip on the under side of the adjustable plate, a pinionconstructed to mesh with the series of teeth on the face-wheel, a bosson the pinion engaging a perforation in said lip, and a shaft engagingwith the pinion and actuated thereby, said shaft actuating the mechanismof the hopper, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with an arm, of a tube inserted partially throughsaid arm and proj ecting beyond one face thereof, the arm having anopening of the diameter of the bore of the tube and registeringtherewith, a bolt passing through the tube and the opening in the armregisteringtherewith, and a lever fulcrumed on the bolt and bearingagainst the shoulder formed by said tube, for the purpose specified.

10. The combination, with an arm, of atube screwed into and partiallythrough said arm and projecting beyond one face thereof, the arm havingan opening of the diameter of the bore of the tube andregisteringtherewith, a bolt passing through the tube and the ope11- ingin the arm registering therewith, and a lever fulcrumed on the bolt andbearing against the shoulder formed by said tube, for the purposespecified.

HARRY E. YOUTZ. HARVEY Z. YOU TZ.

lYitnesses:

SAMUEL PEARSON, THOMAS II. MYERs.

